Disengaging means for hose couplings

ABSTRACT

A hose coupling comprised of an end member having a cylindrical opening therethrough,  
     the end member including cams, lugs, and a central aperture,  
     the face of the end member having an engaging surface, at least two cams extending partially circumferentially rearwardly of the face of the end member,  
     lugs with slots to receive cams extending forwardly of the front face of the members,  
     said L shaped lugs adapted to pass through discontinuances in the ridge of any opposed end member,  
     slots in said logs adapted to engage the cam of any opposed end member when one or both end members are rotated relative to one another to lock the faces of adjoining end members together,  
     the improvement comprising  
     a rearward extension of the lug extending perpendicularly rearwardly of the face of the end member,  
     the perpendicular rearward extension of said lugs comprises a ridge which extends substantially from the front of the lugs substantially to the back of the outer surface of the end member and then inclines downwardly to meet the exterior back surface of the end member.

[0001] This invention is in the field of hose couplings. More particularly the invention is in the field of couplings with cams and lugs in which the lugs and cams engage for quick coupling. The invention lies in an improvement in existing couplings to facilitate disengagement of the two end members which are coupled together. The improvement resides in providing a rearward extending ridge for engagement by a standard wrench for disengaging coupling members from one another.

[0002] The couplings which are the subject of this invention are frequently used on high pressure hose used in the forest-fire fighting industry. The members of the coupling found on the end of adjoining hoses enable a person to join two hoses by hand by placing the end members of adjoining hose face to face and turning one member through a quarter turn relative to the opposing member. In the past high pressure fire hose used threaded couplings but in many areas the use of threaded couplings has been replaced by cam and lug turn couplings. Some existing high pressure fire hose has been adapted to cam and lug turn coupling by threading an adapter on the threaded fire hose which adapter incorporates a cam and lug to create an end member on the fire hose adapted for turn coupling.

[0003] While the end members of adjoining hose described above are very easy to join by hand applied torque, after the coupling has been subject to high pressure, heat or corrosion the couplings often cannot be opened by hand. The lugs of existing cam and lug turn couplings were designed for engagement and disengagement by hand applied torque. The shape of present lugs on the end members of cam and lug turn couplings are difficult to engage with a wrench when hand disengagement is not possible. The difficulty of disengagement can create a problem when crews have to change hoses quickly in the field and are unable to disconnect adjoining hoses by hand. Furthermore crews sometimes strike the couplings against rocks in order to loosen one end member from another causing wear or damage to the end member or hose.

[0004] The problem with disconnecting cam and lug hoses which become too tight or corroded for opening by hand torque has been overcome by providing a lug with an elongated ridge extending rearwardly perpendicularly to the engaging surface of the end member. The ridge can be engaged by the standard wrench used by firefighters. The elongated ridge provides a surface for the wrench to engage so that one member of the coupling can be torqued to disengage the members of the coupling when disengagement by hand is not possible.

IN THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an end member of the cam and lug coupling.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a top view of an end member of the cam and lug coupling.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an end member of the cam and lug coupling.

[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, an end member 1 which is attached to both ends of a length of hose is shown. The end member 1 on both ends of a piece of hose and on the hose to be connected thereto are identical. As seen in FIG. 1, the end member 1 has a generally cylindrical body 2 with a face 3 which is adapted to seat against the face 3 of an adjoining end member 1 not shown. Immediately above and behind the face is a cam 4 extending about three quarters of the distance between two lugs 5 disposed on either side of the end member 1 at 180° relative to one another. The lugs 5 extend forwardly of the face 3 of the end member 1 and as well extend rearwardly perpendicularly from the face 1 in the form of a ridge 6. The ridge 6 is high enough to be engaged and retained by a standard wrench when using a wrench to disengage one member 1 of a coupling from an identical member 1 of an adjoining coupling. The end of the ridge 6 features an inclined surface 7 which inclines downwardly to join the surface of body 1 proximate the base 8 of the end member. The incline 7 is to prevent snagging the end member on wood, rocks or other obstacles. The top of the lug 5 includes slots 9.

[0009] Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown a face sealing gasket 10 extending over a portion of the face 3 of end member 1. There is a central aperture 11 extending through end member 1 and face sealing gasket 10. Referring to FIG. 3 the central aperture 11 is seen to extend through the member 1. The base 8 is tubular when viewed from the bottom.

[0010] The end members 1 each having a face sealing gasket 10 are placed face sealing gasket 10 to face sealing gasket 10. One or other or both of the end members are then turned by hand relative to one another so that slots 9 of cams 5 of respective end members engage the cams 5 of the opposite end member forming a leak-proof seal.

[0011] When adjoining end members 1 cannot be disconnected by hand, a standard wrench is applied to one end member in such a fashion that the end of the standard wrench engages the ridge 6 of one of the lugs 5 and torque is applied to one of the ridges 6 of one of the end members 1 while a foot or other means is used to prevent the end member 1 of the adjoining end member from moving.

[0012] The provision of a lug 5 having a ridge 6 extending perpendicularly rearwardly from the face of the end member provides a ridge readily accessible to a standard wrench. Once the standard wrench engages the ridge 6, the wrench is turned to disengage adjoining end members with less wear, tear and damage to the fire hose, in less time and in some situations with greater safety than is currently the case.

[0013] While the description of the ridge 6 has been directed to the extension of the lug the ridge may be disposed at other than immediately behind and below the lug. While the rearward extension of the ridge is shown as extending rearwardly perpendicularly to the face of the end member the ridge may be substantially perpendicular. While the rearwardly extending ridge is shown as a continuous ridge the ridge may consist of a series of discontinuous raised projections suitable for engagement by a standard wrench to disengage adjoining end members which cannot be hand opened. 

We claim:
 1. A hose coupling comprised of an end member having a cylindrical opening therethrough, the end member including cams, lugs, and a central aperture, the face of the end member having an engaging surface, at least two cams extending partially circumferentially rearwardly of the face of the end member, lugs with slots to receive cams extending forwardly of the front face of the members, said L shaped lugs adapted to pass through discontinuances in the ridge of any opposed end member, slots in said logs adapted to engage the cam of any opposed end member when one or both end members are rotated relative to one another to lock the faces of adjoining end members together, the improvement comprising a rearward extension of the lug extending perpendicularly rearwardly of the face of the end member, the perpendicular rearward extension of said lugs comprises a ridge which extends substantially from the front of the lugs substantially to the back of the outer surface of the end member and then inclines downwardly to meet the exterior back surface of the end member.
 2. A hose coupling comprised of an end member having a cylindrical opening therethrough, the end member including cams, lugs, and a central aperture, the face of the end member having an engaging surface, at least two cams extending partially circumferentially rearwardly of the face of the end member, lugs with slots to receive cams extending forwardly of the front face of the members, said L shaped lugs adapted to pass through discontinuances in the ridge of any opposed end member, slots in said logs adapted to engage the cam of any opposed end member when one or both end members are rotated relative to one another to lock the faces of adjoining end members together, the improvement comprising a ridge on the outer surface of the end member extending from substantially the mid point of the outer surface substantially to the back of the outer surface of the end member and inclining downwardly to meet the exterior surface of the end member. 